Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) is a prominent free zone in the Emirate of Sharjah, UAE, established in 2017 to support the media, digital, and creative industries. It offers a conducive environment for startups, SMEs, and large enterprises by providing various business services, including company formation, licensing, and workspace solutions. SHAMS is designed to foster innovation and creativity, making it an appealing destination for entrepreneurs and companies looking to establish a presence in the UAE.
Businesses in SHAMS benefit from a streamlined company formation process and a variety of license types tailored to specific industry needs, such as media, service, trading, and industrial licenses. The competitive pricing for business setup makes SHAMS accessible for startups and small businesses. Additionally, its strategic location offers easy access to major markets, supported by robust infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring companies have the resources needed to succeed.
SHAMS also focuses on building a supportive community for business growth. The free zone hosts events, workshops, and networking opportunities to nurture talent and encourage collaboration among businesses. With access to a pool of skilled professionals and creative talents, SHAMS provides an excellent environment for media and creative sectors to thrive, positioning itself as a premier destination for businesses aiming to make a significant impact in the region and beyond.
Why Choose SHAMS ?
- Streamlined Company Formation: SHAMS provides a highly efficient and simplified process for setting up a business. The free zone offers a variety of licenses tailored to different industry needs, including media, service, trading, and industrial licenses. This flexibility allows businesses to select the most suitable license for their operations, ensuring compliance with local regulations and optimizing operational efficiency.
- Competitive Pricing: The pricing structure at SHAMS is designed to be cost-effective, making it an attractive option for startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By minimizing initial setup costs, SHAMS allows businesses to allocate more resources toward growth and development. The competitive rates for office spaces and business facilities further enhance the financial appeal of setting up in SHAMS.
- Financial Benefits: SHAMS offers significant financial incentives that enhance business viability and growth potential. These benefits include 100% foreign ownership, allowing investors full control over their business operations. Additionally, SHAMS allows for full repatriation of profits and capital, ensuring that businesses can freely move their earnings. The exemption from import and export duties further reduces operational costs, making SHAMS a financially attractive option.
- Supportive Business Environment: SHAMS is strategically located with easy access to major markets, providing businesses with a competitive edge in reaching customers and partners. The free zone features robust infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring that companies have the resources they need to succeed. SHAMS also fosters a supportive community by hosting various events, workshops, and networking opportunities, encouraging collaboration and innovation among businesses.
- Access to Talent: One of the key advantages of SHAMS is its access to a pool of skilled professionals and creative talents. This access to talent is crucial for businesses in the media and creative industries, enabling them to build strong teams and drive innovation. The vibrant community of like-minded businesses in SHAMS creates an environment where collaboration and knowledge sharing are encouraged, further enhancing the growth potential of companies operating in the free zone.
By choosing SHAMS, businesses can benefit from a combination of financial incentives, streamlined processes, strategic location, and access to a supportive and talented community, making it an ideal destination for entrepreneurs and companies looking to thrive in the UAE.
Benefits of SHAMS
Focus on Media and Creative Industries: SHAMS is specifically designed to support media and creative businesses, offering tailored licenses and facilities for activities such as media production, advertising, publishing, and digital content creation.
Affordable Setup Costs: SHAMS provides highly competitive and cost-effective business setup packages, making it accessible for startups and small businesses with limited budgets.
Innovative Work Environment: The free zone fosters a vibrant and innovative work environment with modern coworking spaces, creative studios, and collaborative workspaces that encourage networking and collaboration among entrepreneurs and creative professionals.
Comprehensive Business Support: SHAMS offers a wide range of support services, including business consultancy, legal assistance, and marketing support, helping businesses navigate challenges and grow effectively.
Flexible Visa Options: SHAMS provides flexible visa packages with options for obtaining up to six visas under a single license, facilitating easy recruitment and mobility for businesses and their employees.
FAQ's
SHAMS caters to a wide range of industries, particularly focusing on the media, digital, and creative sectors. Businesses involved in media production, advertising, publishing, IT services, consultancy, trading, and e-commerce are all well-suited for SHAMS.
SHAMS offers various types of licenses, including media licenses, service licenses, trading licenses, and industrial licenses. Each license is tailored to support specific business activities, ensuring that companies can operate in compliance with local regulations.
Yes, one of the significant advantages of setting up in SHAMS is the ability to have 100% foreign ownership of your business. This allows investors full control over their operations and profits.
SHAMS offers several financial benefits, including full repatriation of profits and capital, exemption from import and export duties, and competitive pricing for business setup and office spaces. These incentives help reduce operational costs and improve profitability.
The company formation process in SHAMS is streamlined and efficient. Depending on the type of business and the completeness of the required documentation, the setup process can typically be completed within a few days to a couple of weeks.